Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 503 - 339: Capital Trends

Now looking at this cold mansion again, it has lost its liveliness over the years, and it seems that even the flowers and plants have lost their vitality, with signs of desolation already appearing in the garden.

Before Liang Zhirui and the others left, of course, they left some servants in the mansion. There was a gatekeeper, craftsmen to tend the flowers and plants, a few maidservants to sweep, and a steward.

These servants are now here waiting, and having learned that the master

was to return to the mansion, they have long been eagerly anticipating it. Guarding a desolate mansion for years, day after day, even if carefully maintained, some parts of the mansion have become difficult to sustain without residents.

Gu Chengyu returned after having a meal at the Liang Mansion, pondering how to arrange for Guo Moruo and the others. He then decided to ask Ming Mo to go at night and inquire about Guo Moruo and the others’ plans. As for Ji Fuhu, he could wait a few more days before asking.

"Sir! We interfered with the examination list this time, the Emperor must be displeased, right?" The adviser Qin knew about the alteration of the examination rankings, and the Emperor even dealt with Tong Zhouyi, not sure if the anger had reached Xia Qing.

As soon as this was mentioned, Xia Qing’s face darkened. During the morning session, the Emperor had indirectly criticized him, severely admonishing him. He had been somewhat hasty; that Gu Chengyu could not be moved yet.

However, the Emperor still spared him some face and did not scold him by name in front of the civil and military officials, but anyone could discern the implication from the words. Since becoming the Grand Secretary, Xia Qing had never been reprimanded by the Emperor, and he didn’t expect to trip over the examination list this time.

He initially thought the Emperor would not remember Gu Chengyu, but unexpectedly, not only did the Emperor remember, he had a rather deep impression.

"It’s okay! It was just a few words of admonishment. That Gu Chengyu was lucky enough to secure the top spot in the examination." Mentioning Gu Chengyu reminded him of Min Feng.

He did have a favorable opinion of Min Feng, but Min Feng still had a youthful temperament, caring too much about temporary gains and losses.

He had also heard about what happened at Tianxiang Pavilion. Gu Chengyu indeed had talent, and Min Feng was bested by him, causing him to be somewhat gloomy these days.

How does the saying go? There is no first in literature, no second in martial arts. Even if Gu Chengyu was extremely talented, is there truly no one in the world with greater talent?

Of course, there are! They just haven’t encountered him yet. To get stuck on some romantic poems is to be bogged down in trivial details, and Xia Qing was somewhat displeased with Min Feng because of that.

"Sir! I think it would be better to deal with Gu Chengyu sooner. He is greatly talented, and judging from the two competitions with Min Feng, he is not short of scheming, and he might achieve great things at the court in the future."

Qin Mulaio had long heard of Min Feng and Gu Chengyu’s two competitions at Tianxiang Pavilion. The incident of pasting couplets at the Ten-mile Pavilion made the adviser realize that Gu Chengyu could not be underestimated. Many scholars frequented the Ten-mile Pavilion, and as the posters were affixed on restroom walls, it was not considered disgraceful, and it even made a name for him.

To have risen to the position of Grand Secretary, Xia Qing indeed harbored no lack of ambition. He certainly considered these matters, but judging from this event, Gu Chengyu was scheming, though he could not gauge how deep. Having never met this man, it was hard to speculate wildly.

Listening to Min Feng’s evaluations of Gu Chengyu and his descriptions of events, Gu Chengyu seemed to unintentionally encounter each literary gathering, not intentionally attending, and his poems were made on the spot.

For such a talent, even Min Feng admired him quite a bit, which was expressed in his words, though he himself hadn’t realized it.

"I wouldn’t think of pulling him down from the examination top just because he posed a threat. However, with his wings growing fuller, dealing with him now would most certainly require considerable effort."

Still, Xia Qing was not worried in his heart. Holding power in court, even if Gu Chengyu becomes an Advanced Scholar or even a top scorer, he would still start as a minor official, not worth a glance from Xia Qing.

At the very least, it would take three years of experience at the Hanlin Academy, and that is the minimum. Within these three years, Min Feng could be elevated as well.

"For you, dealing with Gu Chengyu only requires a slight suggestion, and naturally, someone in the court would trouble him, so there is no need to worry at present. Once he enters the court, he will experience your esteemed reputation, which is not just hearsay. It’s just that Mr. Min’s temperament needs a bit of adjustment; as a young man, he lacks patience."

Xia Qing had already planned to personally guide Min Feng. Previously, he only instructed Huang Junheng to pay special attention to Min Feng, but due to his busy schedule, he couldn’t monitor him closely.

Looking at Min Feng’s lack of composure now, Xia Qing felt he must personally guide him, after all, Min Feng was someone he intended to apprentice.

"Hmm! I’ll have him accompany me these days to work, to help him adjust his temperament. You should educate him in your daily interactions and put in some effort."

"Yes, sir. It was said that before Tong Zhouyi saw the Emperor, the Second Prince visited the Imperial Study and mentioned Gu Chengyu to the Emperor. Should we investigate the scouts from the Second Prince Mansion? Perhaps Gu Chengyu has already pledged allegiance to the Second Prince."

Qin Mulaio couldn’t help but secretly admire, for the events at the Imperial Study were already known to sir, implying that sir’s scouts had already become close attendants of the Emperor, else how would this information come?

"I’ve already ordered the scouts to pay attention; however, the Second Prince has not left the mansion recently and has had no contact with Gu Chengyu. But it is said that a certain adviser in the mansion often indulged in dissolute pursuits and suddenly died on the bed of a Dark Woman Chang; his death was rather peculiar."

Xia Qing harbored some suspicion over that adviser’s death; the timing was too coincidental. Though the adviser had always enjoyed such affairs, often taking strong aphrodisiacs, dying on a woman’s body was not out of the ordinary, yet dying at such a critical moment invited suspicion.

Xia Qing couldn’t help but think of that pale, handsome face, wondering if it was his doing.

"The Second Prince mentioned Gu Chengyu without any contact; someone must have mentioned him in front of the prince. The dead adviser is the biggest suspect, though unfortunately, the people behind the scenes acted too swiftly and decisively."

Xia Qing nodded, agreeing with Qin Mulaio’s viewpoint. However, he had another candidate in mind, someone he was half-sure was responsible.

"By the way, sir, Consort Xian is now confined, ordered not to take a step out of Chenghua Palace, and the Third Prince Mansion remains under house arrest. What is the Emperor’s intention?"

Qin Mulaio found the Emperor’s attitude puzzling. Wan Xue Nian’s misconduct implicated the Third Prince, and some punishment was normal, but house arrest seemed excessive.

In court, the matter of lifting the house arrest on the Third Prince wasn’t mentioned, and even when the courtiers inquired, it was said the discussion would be postponed. Does the Third Prince still fail to gain the Emperor’s favor? He’s almost as unpopular as that sickly Fourth Prince.

Even the Eldest Prince was punished by the Emperor, confined to his mansion for a month, and all duties were suspended.

Now, the Second Prince was basking in the limelight, and the courtiers with shallow foresight already began currying favor with the Second Prince—this was the latest trend in the Capital.